Mister Enigma got wind of our debunking video Speedebunking Mister UFO: CGI Don’t Think So. At first, he was appreciative.So I guess this is a win/win. Mister Enigma is exposed as a hoaxer, and it only increases his traffic. Sadly, this is not surprising based on the popularity of most hoax channels.

Well, sure. You’re welcome? I get your point. Or do I? As it happens, I don’t, because in a couple of hours gratitude gestates into full-blown butthurt:

Dear Mister Enigma,

Truly odd how you state that I “think” your video is CGI even though I’ve just proved it beyond a shadow of a doubt. Nobody tries to “make a name” for themselves in UFOlogy; if they do, they’re doing it wrong. People simply look for answers in pursuit of the truth.

I’m not sure what “hard work” you’re referring to. If your interpretation of hard work is making hoax UFO videos, or reposting videos that others have made, allow me to familiarize you with what “hard work” means: having an extraordinary experience you can’t explain and ruminating about it for decades. Earning the money for cameras and telescopes and IR equipment, then searching the skies for hours in hopes of capturing something amazing with no guarantee of success. Taking up mental bandwidth researching and parsing and trying to make sense of all the disinformation and opinions being pushed at you. That is hard work.

All you do is make noise, perpetrate lies, and I presume make money off those lies. Is it even worth it, knowing you’re producing nothing of value?

This isn’t about what you’ve done to me, it’s what you to all of us who care about this subject. When you pollute it with false sightings, you help make it even more difficult for a marginalized community to make a difference in the world.

If you’ve truly made a mistake and innocently posted a video you didn’t know was fake, allow me to offer my services. I’d be happy to vet any video that comes your way and let you know if it’s authentic.

My own original idea for a Youtube program was to expose hoaxes, explore ideas, and make it entertaining. As far as I know that’s rather unique. You know what’s hack and unoriginal and overdone? Taking advantage of people who are looking for answers so you can make a buck.

I hope you make better choices in the future.

– Constantine

You know what’s coming next, don’t you, folks? Of course you do.

Speedebunking: Mister UFO will be back up after we get copyright clearance, just like we did with the other three videos that were taken down due to the same kind of complaint. Round and round we go.

I’m currently engaged in a chess match with UFO hoaxers, who appear to be displeased with the way they’re being portrayed by UFO Theater. In order to keep their handiwork from being debunked, they’ve used the only means available to them: claim copyright infringement. In doing so, they’re activating video host’s reflexive response to have the video removed while the dispute is resolved. They’ve pursued the issue with Youtube and Vimeo.

It’s difficult to predict what either Youtube or Vimeo will do with the claims, which I’ve rebutted by explaining how inclusion of the hoaxer’s video is Fair Use, for purposes of education, criticism, and parody. These services have no obligation to rely on U.S. copyright law, and can follow their own rules. Secureteam 10 made a copyright complaint that I was able to see from channel creator Tyler Glockner, in which he asserted I simply re-uploaded his entire video. What? I’m not sure how that can be allowed to stand, being that it’s patently false, and the fact that most of the video was footage from the International Space Station feed (NASA footage is public domain) to which he added a flying saucer. A day later the entire UFO Theater channel and account was taken down without notice, citing “multiple copyright violations” without providing me with the additional complaints or who made them. I’ve been judged guilty and sentenced without having the charges explained, the benefit of a trial, or being able to face my accuser(s).

The upside is that as far as I can determine, UFO Theater has had some influence, since hoaxers have decided it’s worth having removed. Thirdphaseofmoon in particular has been much more careful about their hoaxes, moving from visual effects (computer generated imagery) to practical effects (photographing and videotaping actual physical objects) and misrepresenting the result. A good example of this is their “Cigar Shaped UFO Over Napa” that looks like it may be a real object, but they hide all context by only providing three seconds of video, zoomed in and heavily filtered. They spend most of the time polishing their turd with an “interview” with the person who supposedly shot the video.

Based on conversations with several people who have more Youtube experience, the video should be reinstated to that platform, but with the odd deletion of the account with no justification, it’s hard to say. It also may be possible that if videos are reinstated to either platform, the hoaxers may have the ability to simply submit a chain of complaints, one after the other, that keep UFO Theater in permanent limbo. Obviously based on my limited experience, I don’t have much faith in either Youtube or Vimeo. I’ll be exploring yet more third party solutions, but may end up finding a way to run the video off my own server.

If nothing else, this has all provided a lot of creative inspiration for some new videos that will hit the hoaxers even harder, and provide a lot of entertainment. Stay tuned.

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While creating hoaxes is profitable, exposing the lies is not. Using the hoaxers' video to debunk it prevents us from monetizing our work on YouTube. If you enjoy UFO Theater, please support us with a donation and help spread the truth. No amount is too small. Thank you!